President Obama Press Conference

President Barack Obama said Sony "made a mistake" when the company decided to pull its "satirical movie" The Interview in the face of what investigators believe was a hack of the company's computer systems by North Korea. He promised the U.S. would respond to North Korea. More from his news conference is below...

Obama has tried to confound the idea that he's a lame duck. He's entered into an historic agreement with China on climate change, an historic agreement with Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations, and announced a plan to let millions of undocumented immigrants stay in the U.S.

Here's what CNN's Jm Acosta wrote:

Little more than two years before the moment he stands next to his successor at the presidential inauguration of 2017, President Barack Obama is feeling unshackled from the constraints of eyeing the next election cycle after last month's disastrous midterms for Democrats.

Simply put, top White House officials say, the President is on a mission to get stuff done.

From his dramatic decision to open up diplomatic relations with Cubato his executive actions on immigration, Obama no longer has to worry about the hand-wringing of endangered Senate Democrats concerned with reelection.

George Clooney has said Sony should release "The Interview"... will his buddy Obama?

by zbyronwolf12/19/2014 6:53:28 PM

There's the President... 23 minutes late.

by zbyronwolf12/19/2014 6:55:51 PM

First mention - The economy

President Obama opens his news conference talking about how 2014 was - as promised - a "year of action." He then pivots to the economy. The American economy is, arguably, booming. He's mentioning the oil boom and the news today about more money being recovered after the auto bailout.

by zbyronwolf12/19/2014 6:56:34 PM

The U.S. government made more than $15 billion on the bank bailout most people call TARP -

After a tough midterm where Democrats failed to convince voters they can improve the economy, Obama and his allies have promised to tout the president's accomplishments as much as possible. They see the economy as a key one:

by zbyronwolf12/19/2014 6:59:07 PM

That chart below is from the White House, BTW. You can tell what we add from their Twitter stream because it has the White House in the little picture thumbnail.

Obama on Sony - they're a corporation and they can do what they want to do, but... He also says he hopes Congress can pass a cyber security bill. He should call his home state senator, Dick Durbin, a privacy advocate, about that.

CNNThe North Korean hack of Sony Pictures that unleashed proprietary information, leaked embarrassing emails and brought the multi-billion dollar company's operations to its knees was unprecedented. But cyber security and intelligence experts warn that this is only the beginning.

Obama: If U.S. doesn't respond to Sony hack, this won't affect just movies, but entire economy. cnn.it/1zFMJxG

by Alexandra.Jaffe12/19/2014 7:11:19 PM

Next question from press is on tax reform. Obama says he's optimistic it will happen, and after talking to House Speaker John bohener and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, they are "serious about wanting to get something done."

Obama: We've got no indication that North Korea was working with another country

by Alexandra.Jaffe12/19/2014 7:17:38 PM

Obama: "Change is going to come to Cuba, it has to."

His next question is on the move to normalize relations with Cuba. Obama says that he believes relaxing the embargo will improve conditions for citizens there.

"Over time, that chips away at this hermetically-sealed society and, I believe, offers the best prospect of leading to greater freedom and greater self-determination of the Cuban people. I think it’ll happen in fits and starts, but with true engagement, we have a better chance.”

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN12/19/2014 7:21:27 PM

"Change is going to come to Cuba, it has to."

by Alexandra.Jaffe12/19/2014 7:22:42 PM

Obama says he's confident that, with the embargo relaxed and better diplomatic relations, the U.S. will be "in a better position to actually have some influence" on Cuba.

"There will be carrots as well as sticks” that the U.S. can use to confront the nation on issues, he adds.